Child obesity concern

The results of a survey of child obesity in the Taranaki region released this week show we are no further ahead in tackling this problem.

In my time as CEO of Sport Tasman significant funding and support through a variety of programmes was given to schools and many sports organisations had coaches working within the school environment.

A comprehensive wide-ranging regional strategy supported by the NMDHB and local bodies was introduced with a priority of increasing physical activity with the main focus aimed at kids. Sadly the funding for this fell over due to severe budget cuts.

The question that needs to be answered is what are the root causes? Bad parenting and poor diet are often blamed. There are other solutions.

Firstly, the national standard of TV viewing time needs to be slashed as ‘‘no more than 2 hours’’ is actually providing a cop out for parents. Secondly all teachers recruited at primary schools should be trained to organise physical activity in such a way that it is both fun and educational. Some innovative schools are already doing this. And yes these programmes must have a competitive element to them as well but not one that kills off any interest in a young mind. along this zone and others can increase water retention by up to 129 per cent thus greatly reducing surface runoff, and peak flow while also reducing sediments, and nutrient loss.

Starting early in the 10-year plan as a budgeted cost could see flood mitigation, and soil health improvements across the entire district for much less cost than reworking just one urban street.

These beetles can increase soil biomass fivefold, and increase pastoral production by 30 per cent for less inputs without irrigation while also providing a soil filtration mechanism that filters the soil so that nutrient isn’t lost to ground water.

With local body support this could thus save costs from rainfall events over time equating to perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars. They are little soil engineers who work for free, and rebalance production with the environment. doesn’t respect children.

Much has changed. It was not idyllic: World wars, Christian nations slaughtered each other, Depression, Holocaust, backstreet abortions, sectarian cemeteries, unionists jailed for sedition, feeding their families a crime. Ah, the good old days: The Friendly Road, ITMA, correct spelling, children in their place. Ah, discipline: boys caned for having their socks down.

Well, it’s a different world. Even skilled jobs may not be paid a living wage, Big Data, Google, Globalisation, devices, coding, Alibaba, instant communication, knowledge, ski holidays in Japan. Times tables and spelling won’t get you through. Nor mindless obedience.

My thirteen year old has many experiences I had only as an adult, knows heaps I learned only as an adult or still don’t know. He knows lots Kuipers doesn’t know. School has challenged him to think. His opinions are informed, thoughtful and moderate. Does Kuipers really believe she knows better what he needs to know? She hasn’t met him. I gave him her letter. He read some, said’: ‘‘I get it. Black versus white. Now I want to do my homework.’’ The Adam festival is unique among all other New Zealand festivals in the reputation it enjoys on the global cultural map.

This year it has again attracted musicians from Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand, playing to full houses of chamber music lovers from around the country and the world.

It is the 25th anniversary of the festival – it began in 1992 with just five concerts, and has gone on to gain a high profile reputation, often being described as New Zealand’s only truly international music festival.

So what is the mix of music and magic that sees musicians clamouring for an invitation, and concert lovers soaking up the $895 VIP passes in just a couple of days?

First there is the music. Chamber music is just that: music written to be played in a ‘‘chamber’’, not in a grand orchestral venue. It is conversational, accessible and much loved in both its classical and contemporary forms.

Second are the musicians. The New Zealand String Quartet has been the musical driving force of the Adam Festival since its inception, and is the Festival’s Quartet in Residence.

For many of the 102 weeks between Festivals the NZSQ is on tour, performing with some of the world’s best musicians in venues such as London’s Wigmore Hall and in countries as diverse as Mexico and China.

They meet people who are impressed with their skill and with their stories of the festival that happens every two years in a small city back home in New Zealand.

The Quartet’s first violinist Helene Pohl and viola player Gillian Ancell are the festival’s musical directors. They issue the invitations, and it has to be said the idea of coming to Nelson in summer is a pretty attractive one when you are, like repeat attendee, clarinettist James Campbell, suffering temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius in the American Midwest.

So let’s count the climate and other attractions of Nelson as the third reason for the Adam’s success, as this certainly helps in bringing the audience to town.

Whether they’re from Perth or Parnell the festival attendees like what Nelson has on offer.

Talk to any of the city’s boutique retailers, restaurateurs or gallery owners and they’ll tell you just how the festival visitors manage to pump an estimated $8.5 million into the local economy in the 10 days they are here.

Fourth, Nelson has very lovely heritage venues that really lend themselves to this style of intimate musical performance.

Candlelight concerts in the

says the festival is a valuable jewel in Nelson’s tourism and cultural crown.

We’re really grateful for the Nelson City Council support for this festival. For the council it represents great value in both economic benefits and in the promotion of the city as a cultural hub.

Just last week the NZ Listener ran a three page feature on the festival’s New Zealand premiere of the short opera Iris Dreaming, written by Fleur Adcock and Dame Gillian Whitehead, based on the life of radical writer Robin Hyde. This sort of publicity just cannot be bought.

You may be thinking the Adam Festival is all very well, but it’s sounding just a little like another event for the well heeled.

In fact, with sponsorship we do manage to keep prices remarkably low by big city standards; and there are two free concerts in the cathedral from our quartet of rising musical stars, The Troubadours, as well as a free concert for kids, along with free master-classes and artist talks.

This year the cestival has offered after concert entertainment with free jazz sessions at the East Street Cafe´, starting at 10pm most nights.

When we invited drummer Ed Ware to the festival we thought this was a perfect way to expose him to a wider audience.

So we have invited a couple of New Zealand’s top exponents of jazz – and you never know, other artists performing in the festival just might make a cameo appearance.

For a few days every two years our town becomes the Salzburg of the South. That’s something we can all enjoy and be proud of.